Top Emerging Research Fields at Tel Aviv University

06 September 2023

Named a global top 100 innovation university by Reuters, Tel Aviv University (TAU) brings together cutting-edge minds to address the most pressing challenges of the 21st century through bold and collaborative solutions. Breakthrough research is a strategic priority of the University and is supported by state-of-the-art research facilities, backing for international collaboration, and the minimization of administrative obstacles.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

Data analytics, the rise in big data, applications of artificial intelligence (e.g., natural language processing, deep learning, neural networks, cybernetics, machine learning, cognitive science, image recognition) are becoming ever more critical areas of study and research.

TAU established its Center for AI and Data Science in 2019 as an interdisciplinary center focused on advancing innovative research and education, with a focus on developing artificial intelligence and data science for good. The center brings together more than 250 faculty members from across the university, with its main goals being to:

Support core AI and data science research
Promote interdisciplinary collaboration
Provide advanced infrastructure and access to unique datasets
Develop relations with industry and public organizations
Promote AI and data science education

In addition to funding collaborative research, the center offers a fellowship program for PhD candidates and holds seminars, conferences, and meetings.

Climate Change and Environmental Studies

Israel is a leader in cleantech technology, and TAU offers a number of programs and research pathways focused on climate change and environmental studies. The University offers international master’s programs in the social and policy aspects of climate change, environmental studies and sustainable development.

The recently launched Center for Global Climate Change is focused on becoming the leading national and international knowledge center in the field, with a focus on interdisciplinary research initiatives in both theoretical and applied disciplines (e.g., natural and agricultural ecosystem functioning, public policy assessments, interventions, etc.).

Through the Porter School of Environmental Studies, researchers and students focus on areas such as renewable energy, climate change, pollution and river rehabilitation, environmental justice, sustainable urban planning and environmental economics.

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

A nanometer is about one billionth of a meter, and the field of nanoscience focuses on understanding and manipulating materials, structures and other phenomena at that scale. Nanotechnology involves the application of scientific knowledge and techniques to design, create and utilize materials, devices and systems at the nanoscale. Nanoscience and nanotechnology have led to significant advancements in various fields such as electronics, medicine, energy, materials science and more.

Tel Aviv University’s Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology focuses on cutting-edge research and technological advancement and on enabling advanced R&D capability, specifically related to interdisciplinary efforts in physical, chemical, engineering, biological and medical sciences.

Health Longevity

The science of health longevity is the multidisciplinary study of the processes, factors and interventions that influence human lifespan and a healthy lifespan free from significant chronic disease. The Healthy Longevity Research Center is a new interdisciplinary center at TAU focused on being a catalyst for translating research and development into new technologies, treatments and expertise that promote dignity, health and quality of life among the elderly.

In addition to determining findings and recommendations for scientists, health professionals and policymakers, the center is focused on supporting a new generation of researchers in gerontology and other aging-related fields, as well as facilitating discussion in areas such as memory loss, old age, ageism, caregiving, and the emotional world of aging.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience focuses on understanding the structure, function, development and disorders of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. It seeks to understand the workings of the brain and nervous system, ranging from the cellular and molecular level to complex cognitive functions and behaviors.

Through the recently-established Sagol School of Neuroscience, teams from the faculties of life sciences, medicine, social sciences, exact sciences and engineering, in addition to researchers from the Adams Center for Brain Studies, are focused on solving some of the most complex mysteries of the human brain. Additionally, the program is home to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs (this also includes an international master’s program in neuroscience).

Cyber Research

TAU is a world leader in cyber research, focusing on topics related to cybersecurity, network security, malware analysis, privacy and data protection, cyber threat intelligence and more. Every year, TAU hosts Cyber Week, one of the world’s largest cyber conferences, and in 2023 brought together 400 speakers, 80 countries and 10,000 attendees. TAU is also home to the ICRC – Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center, which fosters interdisciplinary scientific research on the information age, digital transformation and cybersecurity. The center, since 2014, has awarded $8 million in research funding to 250 researchers from areas such as the exact sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, law and social sciences.

Additionally, the University offers an international master’s program in cyber politics & government, as well as a short-term cyber security program (students review cyber security systems including blockchain, cryptology, hash function, crypto-techniques, asymmetric encryption and more).

Pandemics

With COVID-19, the world renewed its attention on the severity and risk of pandemics. The new TAU Center for Combating Pandemics (TCCP) brings together university experts across scientific disciplines, in collaboration with hospitals, the public health system, and domestic and foreign research institutes.

The center is focused on supporting research activities focused on combatting pandemics (i.e., through the development of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics); generating high-quality, data-driven research on the social and economic consequences of pandemics; and helping societies to overcome future crisis by providing data for economic and societal disruptions.